Category: Life (page 1 of 40)

August 17, 2019 |&nbsp Category: &nbsp Life, Retirement locations, Travel&nbsp |&nbsp Add Comment &nbsp Author: &nbsp Sharon Leaf posts: 7 Author's bioXSharon LeafBackground: Since turning forty Sharon Leaf and her husband Rob have traveled to 30+ countries including living in Sweden, trekking through Israel, traveling through Russia and Siberia on the Trans Siberian Railway, and volunteering on a World War II ship, whose sole purpose was to transport Russian Jews from the Black Sea to Israel. She received a degree in theology at sixty, proving that it's never too late to fulfill another dream. Born in South Carolina and raised in Southern California, Sharon returned to her southern roots and now lives with Rob and their malte-poo Popcorn on Lake Murray in South Carolina. They have spent the last three years traveling the USA in their 40-foot motor home and are volunteers with first-response organization Christ In Action (CIA). Lady and the Sea is Sharon's first novel. Her next novel Lady on the Run will be published in 2019. Please check out her website

To know someone here or there With whom you feel there is an understanding In spite of distance or thoughts unexpressed— That can make of this earth’s garden. Goethe I can’t believe it’s been eight months since we sold our home and downsized to a lovely condo on Lake Murray. Now that I think about …more

May 17, 2019 |&nbsp Category: &nbsp Life&nbsp |&nbsp Add Comment &nbsp Author: &nbsp Rebecca Kueker posts: 2 Author's bioXRebecca KuekerBackground: Becky is a Tucson-based, nationally known author and speaker traveling around the U.S. providing presentations that relate to her personal journey. She retired from a 20-year career as a partner in a woman-owned, commercial architectural and interior design firm. Leading business development and forming strategic relationships with Fortune 500 companies around the world. Becky also chaired the company’s Corporate Advisory Board. She was named a top Woman of Achievement, awarded the “Star Catchers Award” by St. Louis County Library and is a recipient of the YWCA President’s Award honor.

Becky’s first book, Hiding in My Pajamas, A Professional Woman’s Journey to a Financially and Emotionally Healthy Retirement, captured her emotional roller coaster ride in a funny, honest and insightful book that looks at retirement from a woman’s perspective. Her second book, “A Classic in Clown Shoes” that will debut in May of this year, is a humorous reflection on new beginnings and why you don’t have to be defined by age.

“There is a trick to a graceful exit. It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over – and to let go.” – Ellen Goodman I am not exactly sure when I personally decided to retire. I think it was when I had received an award …more

May 13, 2019 |&nbsp Category: &nbsp Jobs/Volunteer, Life, Travel&nbsp |&nbsp Add Comment &nbsp Author: &nbsp Sharon Leaf posts: 7 Author's bioXSharon LeafBackground: Since turning forty Sharon Leaf and her husband Rob have traveled to 30+ countries including living in Sweden, trekking through Israel, traveling through Russia and Siberia on the Trans Siberian Railway, and volunteering on a World War II ship, whose sole purpose was to transport Russian Jews from the Black Sea to Israel. She received a degree in theology at sixty, proving that it's never too late to fulfill another dream. Born in South Carolina and raised in Southern California, Sharon returned to her southern roots and now lives with Rob and their malte-poo Popcorn on Lake Murray in South Carolina. They have spent the last three years traveling the USA in their 40-foot motor home and are volunteers with first-response organization Christ In Action (CIA). Lady and the Sea is Sharon's first novel. Her next novel Lady on the Run will be published in 2019. Please check out her website

~You cannot discover new roads until you’re willing to lose sight of your front door~ Since retiring, do you plan for your future, or do you go-with-the-flow? Rob and I decided when we got married thirty-some years ago to never plan too far ahead. Why? Because every time we planned, something else would come up …more

May 7, 2019 |&nbsp Category: &nbsp Health, Jobs/Volunteer, Life, Relationships&nbsp |&nbsp Add Comment &nbsp Author: &nbsp Professor Sarah H. Kagan posts: 2 Author's bioXProfessor Sarah H. KaganBackground: Sarah H. Kagan is a gerontological nurse. She holds the Lucy Walker Honorary Term Chair as Professor of Gerontological Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania where she teaches undergraduate and graduate students, practices in the Living Well Geriatric Oncology Program at Pennsylvania Hospital, and conducts qualitative research in cancer experience for older people.

Sarah is a columnist, writing Myths of Aging for Calkins Media, and public educator, having co-taught the MOOC (massive open online course) Growing Old Around the Globe. Her writing, teaching, practice, and research are all aimed toward aging well , supporting wellbeing among older people and their families, and bettering our aged communities and ageing America.

May is Older Americans Month! Each year, the Administration on Community Living (ACL) within the Federal government sponsors this month of recognition with a theme that changes from year to year. Whether you are one of our more than 49 million older Americans or if your aim is to join their ranks in the future, …more

March 14, 2019 |&nbsp Category: &nbsp Life&nbsp |&nbsp 2 Comments &nbsp Author: &nbsp Rebecca Kueker posts: 2 Author's bioXRebecca KuekerBackground: Becky is a Tucson-based, nationally known author and speaker traveling around the U.S. providing presentations that relate to her personal journey. She retired from a 20-year career as a partner in a woman-owned, commercial architectural and interior design firm. Leading business development and forming strategic relationships with Fortune 500 companies around the world. Becky also chaired the company’s Corporate Advisory Board. She was named a top Woman of Achievement, awarded the “Star Catchers Award” by St. Louis County Library and is a recipient of the YWCA President’s Award honor.

Becky’s first book, Hiding in My Pajamas, A Professional Woman’s Journey to a Financially and Emotionally Healthy Retirement, captured her emotional roller coaster ride in a funny, honest and insightful book that looks at retirement from a woman’s perspective. Her second book, “A Classic in Clown Shoes” that will debut in May of this year, is a humorous reflection on new beginnings and why you don’t have to be defined by age.

Needless to say how you deal with closing that door from your work life actually defines you in a different way. Every retirement book I had ever read was right . . . During our journey through life work shores up our identity, anchors our private and social life, defining us to the world. All …more

March 9, 2019 |&nbsp Category: &nbsp Jobs/Volunteer, Life, Relationships&nbsp |&nbsp 1 Comment &nbsp Author: &nbsp Marilyn Traugott posts: 1 Author's bioXMarilyn TraugottBackground: Marilyn Traugott is the founder and director of One Future at a Time, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that provides access to health care and education that would otherwise be unavailable or unaffordable in impoverished communities in South Africa, Uganda, and Rwanda. Since 2007, she spends about half of each year in Africa, where she is involved with projects and programs for local organizations as well as with individuals and communities at large. Over time there, she has become a mentor, mom, and friend to many children and young adults. More information about One Future at a Time can be found at the website One Future At A Time and on Facebook.

Marilyn has an Ed.M. in counseling from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She went on to teach special education, develop medical education materials, work as a counselor for at-risk youth and their families, and then begin a long career with a hospice program in Redding, CA, beginning with the program's inception and including the development of clinical expertise in bereavement care and the provision of professional and community education on hospice and end-of-life issues.

On a personal level, she is involved in music, community organizations advocating for civil rights, social justice, and peace-building, and is a Rotarian both in Africa and the USA.

One question I’ve always had trouble answering is, “What is your long term plan?” I can organize and implement everything from a small task to a large-scale international project as well as anyone, but setting and achieving 5-year goals for myself is a real stumper for me. Given my history, it makes sense. My mother …more

March 3, 2019 |&nbsp Category: &nbsp Life&nbsp |&nbsp Add Comment &nbsp Author: &nbsp Sharon Leaf posts: 7 Author's bioXSharon LeafBackground: Since turning forty Sharon Leaf and her husband Rob have traveled to 30+ countries including living in Sweden, trekking through Israel, traveling through Russia and Siberia on the Trans Siberian Railway, and volunteering on a World War II ship, whose sole purpose was to transport Russian Jews from the Black Sea to Israel. She received a degree in theology at sixty, proving that it's never too late to fulfill another dream. Born in South Carolina and raised in Southern California, Sharon returned to her southern roots and now lives with Rob and their malte-poo Popcorn on Lake Murray in South Carolina. They have spent the last three years traveling the USA in their 40-foot motor home and are volunteers with first-response organization Christ In Action (CIA). Lady and the Sea is Sharon's first novel. Her next novel Lady on the Run will be published in 2019. Please check out her website

Spring is just around the corner! Depending on where you live, you can feel it in the air! South Carolina’s weather is fighting for spring to spring forth! I’ve done most of my downsizing and as you recall, I closed my last blog sitting on our patio, admiring the sun set over Lake Murray, asking …more

January 29, 2019 |&nbsp Category: &nbsp Life&nbsp |&nbsp Add Comment &nbsp Author: &nbsp Sharon Leaf posts: 7 Author's bioXSharon LeafBackground: Since turning forty Sharon Leaf and her husband Rob have traveled to 30+ countries including living in Sweden, trekking through Israel, traveling through Russia and Siberia on the Trans Siberian Railway, and volunteering on a World War II ship, whose sole purpose was to transport Russian Jews from the Black Sea to Israel. She received a degree in theology at sixty, proving that it's never too late to fulfill another dream. Born in South Carolina and raised in Southern California, Sharon returned to her southern roots and now lives with Rob and their malte-poo Popcorn on Lake Murray in South Carolina. They have spent the last three years traveling the USA in their 40-foot motor home and are volunteers with first-response organization Christ In Action (CIA). Lady and the Sea is Sharon's first novel. Her next novel Lady on the Run will be published in 2019. Please check out her website

Happy New Year! After weeks of packing, unpacking, moving furniture around several times a day, tossing, and donating, I feel like these two REDs* are happily settled in our cozy condo on Lake Murray. New Year’s resolutions? I gave them up years ago. I’d make lists, and then forget where I placed them. However, I …more